Journalist leaves Turkey before forcible expulsion

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A Turkish newspaper says authorities decided to expel one of its journalists — an Azerbaijani national — after he posted anti-government tweets.

Today's Zaman newspaper said Mahir Zeynalov left Turkey for Azerbaijan on Friday before the government took steps to enforce a deportation order. He was nevertheless escorted by police at the airport.

The decision comes at a time of heightened concerns over media freedoms in Turkey. This week, Parliament approved measures, not yet signed into law by the president, to tighten government controls over the Internet.

Editor-in-Chief Bulent Kenes said Zeynalov was under investigation for allegedly insulting officials in tweets critical of the government's handling of a police corruption probe.

The newspaper is affiliated with an Islamic movement which the government accuses of instigating the corruption probe.